Eunuch Xu swallowed hard and gave a heavy kowtow. “Your Majesty, this old servant dares to be bold—when… when do you plan to invite Chancellor Gu back?”
The vermilion brush paused over a scroll, a drop of ink falling like a small black hole.
Yuan Zhuo’s lips curled into a bizarre arc. “Why should I invite my Huaiyu Gege back?”
Great Chen could not live without Gu Huaiyu, but a Gu Huaiyu who had left Great Chen…
He no longer had to stay up all night reviewing these reports. He no longer had to worry about those parasites.
He could finally recover from his illness in peace.
Eunuch Xu looked up imploringly. “Your Majesty must think of the empire! If we don’t invite the Chancellor back soon, something terrible will happen!”
“Get out.”
The words fell softly, and Eunuch Xu, helpless, kowtowed and withdrew.
The news of the execution of Minister Cui’s entire clan struck the court like a thunderclap.
A first-rank official, killed just like that.
The Emperor has lost his mind.
This thought exploded in the minds of every official. Panic spread like a plague—today it was Minister Cui; who would it be tomorrow?
That night, the ministers and directors of five ministries—more than a dozen high-ranking officials—gathered at Shen Jun’s residence.
“Lord Shen!”
The Minister of Justice grabbed Shen Jun’s sleeve, his face pale. “Chancellor Gu must save us!”
“Lord Shen, if this continues, we’re all dead! Please, ask the Chancellor to come back and save everyone…”
Shen Jun slowly sipped his tea, waiting until they had finished their wailing before letting out a sigh. “My lords, the Chancellor is currently retired in the mountains. I am powerless as well.”
“But you are his confidant!” Someone practically collapsed onto their knees. “Only Lord Shen can get a word through!”
Shen Jun’s gaze swept over the group of aristocrats who were usually so arrogant. Now, they were like stray dogs.
The time was ripe.
He set down his teacup, the porcelain clinking against the table with a crisp sound. “Very well.”
“I happen to be going to visit the Chancellor tomorrow. If you all have the intention…”
Before he could finish, the hall was filled with officials competing to shout, “We’ll go too! We’ll go with you!”
The night was deep, and the mountain retreat was silent.
For the past few days, Gu Huaiyu had been practicing his archery. Pei Jingyi had specially made him a small wooden bow with a light draw weight. He didn’t have to use much strength to pull it back, and it had become a leisure activity.
Every morning and evening, he would practice for a while, considering it a way to stretch his limbs.
His health was much better than before.
It was early spring, and the mountain chill hadn’t dissipated. The retreat didn’t have the underfloor heating of the Chancellor’s Estate, so it was still quite cold at night.
Even so, he could burn a brazier of charcoal in the bathing room and enjoy a comfortable hot bath. Though his physique still couldn’t compare to an ordinary young man, compared to his previous state where he would cough blood at the slightest provocation, it was a world of difference.
He was satisfied.
Gu Huaiyu leaned lazily against the edge of the tub. He reached into a small box nearby, took out a slip of paper, and flicked his wet finger to unfold the secret report from ‘The Hearing.’
The chaos in the capital was even more disorganized than he had anticipated.
As he was thinking of a solution, a tall shadow suddenly appeared against the window lattice.
Pei Jingyi’s voice came through the door. “The night air is cold. Is the charcoal enough? Do you need me to add more?”
Gu Huaiyu glanced at the burning brazier beside the tub. “No.”
The outside fell silent for a moment.
Then, Pei Jingyi asked in a low voice, “No? Then do you want me to massage your shoulders?”
Previously, Gu Huaiyu might have thought the man was just “playing the servant,” but now, how could he not know what kind of “play” he was after?
Seeing that Gu didn’t respond, Pei Jingyi pushed his luck and reached for the door. “I’m coming in.”
Gu Huaiyu didn’t even lift an eyelid, letting out a cold sneer from his throat. “If you dare enter this room, I’ll chop off your dog’s cock.”
The shadow on the window moved closer, as if leaning in curiously. “Hmm? How do you know it’s a dog’s?”
Gu Huaiyu realized the man was getting even bolder with his verbal teases. He raised an eyebrow. “Get lost.”
Unexpectedly, Pei Jingyi didn’t push further this time. His footsteps retreated decisively. From ten paces away, his voice carried clearly: “Fine. I’ll stand guard right here.”
He was actually more obedient than before.
Gu Huaiyu leaned back against the tub’s edge. The warm water flowed over his slender neck and shoulders, the steam turning his skin a moist, pale pink.
He closed his eyes and splashed a handful of water onto his face. If he really let Pei Jingyi in, they probably really would end up “playing the flute.”
The moment the thought occurred, his mind involuntarily pictured Pei Jingyi’s hands—those well-defined joints, broad and thick, covered in rough calluses.
His gaze drifted downward. Beneath the water’s surface, his own form was clean and elegant. If it were held in those hands…
Gu Huaiyu’s brow snapped into a frown. It’s all because Pei Jingyi spends all day whispering in my ear. Otherwise, why would I have such lowly thoughts?
He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, pressing the back of his head against the edge of the tub, trying to dispel the mess of thoughts.
But the more he suppressed them, the clearer the images became. How would those callused hands move? Would they be rough or gentle? When those rough calluses rubbed against him…
Splash.
Gu Huaiyu didn’t even open his eyes. The clear reaction of his body told him exactly what had happened. He sank lower, burying himself deeper into the water as the pink flush behind his ears deepened. He bit his lower lip and cursed under his breath:
“Lowly scoundrel… you’re ruining my focus.”
